Back washer



Oct. l, 1929. A. A. SANDERS BACK WASHER Filed Jan. 17, 1928 INVENTOR Jie-Lam Jl. Sano-GP5 BY -Q ATTORN EY rasata oa. i, ieee ADAM A, sANDnRs, or Nrwv YORK, N. Y.

BACK WASI-IER Application filed January 17, 1928; Serial No. $247,393.

Ilhis invention relates to a convertible article designed to enable aperson to effectively scrub and wash the back and other parts of the body, and to be used as a medical bandage.

5 One of the objects of the invention is the provision ot an article of the indicated character which embodies means adapted to contain a detergent or liquid soap or soapy solution which will reach the parts of the body 10 being scrubbed and washed in the manipulation of the article.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an article of the indicated character which may be readily converted from a l5 back washer to an article adapt-ed to be placed upon one hand to be used for scrubbing and washing other parts of the body than the back.

Another object is to provide an article of the indicated character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the article may be readily converted to be used as a medical appliance for bandaging parts of the body and tor .holding poultices in place on aiiected or injured parts ot the body.

iVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention resides in the certain structural features and functions of the parts hereina-iter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation oif the article embodying the features of the invention with portions oit the manipulating strip being broken away, in condition to be used as a back scrubber and washer.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ot the article.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the article converted to be used with one hand.

Fig. lis a sectional View taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the neck of the pouch ot the article with its closure opened. y

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the neck of the pouch illustrating the neck opened.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a modification.

rihe form of the invention shown in the drawing is by way of example only, andit is therefore to be understoodthat modifications in the construction and arrangement ,ot the parts and in the character ot' the ymaterials used may be adopted without departing from 5L the spirit of the invention. n

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, use is made ot a piece of textile material to produce a backing strip 10, the said` ma.- terial being cut, sewed and formed to provide a comparatively large Vcentral 4portion 11, and comparatively narrow elongated grip or manipulating membersl respectively at opposite ends of the central portion. The backing strip. 10 may be ot any preferred size, te" and the central portion and the members 12' may be of any preferred proportions. In order to stiii'en the central portion 11 there are provided a plurality of stiftening inembers 13 of suitable material such as whalebone, and these stitening members 13 are disposed crosswise ot thecentral portion at one side and are held in placein spaced relationship in any suitable manner. In the present instance apiece ot' textile material 14 7. is used, the same being .somewhat shorter than the central portion 11 but equalin width. The piece ot material 14 is sewed to the `central portion along the marginal edges thereof, and lines of` stitching along the opposite r.:- side edges of tlie stitiening membersl hold them in place;

A suitable bag, Vsack or pouchl of rubber or like material is attached to the central portion 11, and occupies a position at one side .'...3 of the longitudinal axis of the strip 10. The pouch 15 serves for containing adetergent or soapy solution which will reach the parts otv the body being scrubbed and lwashed. through l small perforations or pinholes 16 in the wall i3 of the pouch. The detergent or soapy solution is introduced intothe pouch 15 throughV a neck 17. At the mouth of the neck 17 there are provided flexible rmembers 18., there being one at each side and secured toV the neck in ..1 any suitable manner. Y The iexiblemembers 18 normally serve to hold the-neck closed,v supplemented by the action of a retaining element or clip 19 pivotally connected at one end as at 2O to the members 18, `Whenfthe 10U clip 19 is moved to the opened position as shown in Fig. 6, the flexible members 18 may be bowed by exerting pressure With the ingersV of the hand on the opposite ends thereof to open the neck, as shown in Fig. 7. Use is made of a scrubbing or Washing element, such as a ruffled or pleated cloth 21 Which is sei cured to the central portion 11 of the backing or soapy solution Will be forced out of the pinholes 16 by pressure and Will reach the parts of the body While the cloth 21 will set up the desired scrubbing and Washing action.

In order that the article may be readily converted from a back Washer to an article adapted to be placed upon one hand to be usc-d for scrubbing and Washing other parts of the body than the back, there is provided a tab 22 Which is scvved at one end to the central portion 11 at the rear thereof. The tab 22 extends throughA a loop 23 secured to thc portion 11. A second and smaller tab 24 is secured to the tab 22 and has coacting fastening elements 25 and 26 respectively at the opposite ends thereof. The central portion 11 has a fastening element 27, one of the members 12 has a duplex fastening element 28, and the other member 12 has a fasteniiig element 29. The Varrangement of the fastening elements27, 28 and 29 is such that the fastening element 28 may be engaged With the fastening element 27 after folding the manipulating member 12 over the central portion 11, and the fastening element 29 may be engaged With the duplex fastening element 28 after the related manipulating member 12 has been yfolded over the central portion 11 and then folded upon itself. The tabs 22 and 24 may be folded upon themselves around the folded manipulating members 12, and then by bringing theV fastening element 26 into engagement with the fastening element 25 the manipulating members 12 will be retained in place in folded condition, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4;. Suitable means in the form of an elastic strip or band -30 secured to the portion 11 at the rear serves for holding the neck 17 down at the rear of the portion 11, as

shown in Fig. 3. The portion 11 also ,has a strip or band 31 at the rear. When the article is used in the condition shown in F 3 one hand may be inserted under the band 31 While tWo or more of the fingers may be in serted in the loop formed by the tabs 22 and 241 With the thumb and little finger free to manipulate portions in conjunction with the hand for carrying out scrubbing and'washing operations. Rings 32 attached to the portion 11 at the rear serve for hanging up the article When not in use.

Instead of permanently securing the pouch 15 and the scrubbing and Washing element 21 to the central portion 11, these parts may be permanentlyattached to a piece of rubber or like material 33 Which has secured on one face thereof fastening elements 3A Which coact with fastening elements 35 onl the central portion 11 to detachably connect the unit consisting of the pouch 15 and the element 21, as shown in Fig. 8.

I claim:

1. r111e combination of a scrubber, and a pouch of flexible Waterproof material secured to said scrubber, said pouch having a neck by which the pouch is filled Withany desired liquid, a Wall of said pouch having perforations through Which the liquid may be discharged, relatively stiff but flexible members secured to opposite sides of the neck and having a normal tendency to collapse the neck, and a movablel clip adapted to embrace the neck to hold it closed.

2. The combination with a strip of textile material having o'rip members at the oppoy site ends thereof for manipulating said strip, and a central ruffled section, of a pouch adapted to contain and discharge liquid soap or the like, said pouch being secured to said strip adjacent said ruffled section.

ADAM A. SANDERS. 

